Is Seatow worth the money?

roffey

Commander
Joined
Nov 22, 2012
Messages
2,204
Yes, you can get tow insurance in Ontario. There are a few but this one looks like the best.

https://www.c-tow.ca/EN/

I did have tow insurance on my last boat however that company went out of business. As you said, Old Ironmaker , in Canada it is law that you have to assist. I have towed several boats in and last year was my turn. My brand new still under warrantee boat decided to break down in the middle of the lake. I flagged down some fishermen who were happy to get me to shore.

As a side note, my issue was a bad connection to the gas pump. The marina who fixed it said definitely a defect and warranty issue. Stingray said not their problem as it was wiring and Mercury did the wiring, Mercury not their problem as Stingray did the wiring at the plant. Fortunately it was a cheep fix but still frustrating all the same. Still like my boat though just a little ticked with Stingray the company.
 

jackrabbit66

Seaman
Joined
Sep 26, 2014
Messages
58
Where did you find the mention of a 10 mile limitation? I read through the T&C and found no reference to a 10 mile limitation. Only that they will tow you to the closet place to get the boat repaired or removed from the water.

The thing that concerns me is the statement about "disablements that occur outside the normal boating season" Interested in their interpretation of "normal boating season"


I called Progressive and they read to me this information. The information about 10 mile towing was in regards to being towed to my choice of destination. I'm also curious about what "normal boating season" means. I didn't hear or see any info about that. I will call and find out.
 

dingbat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
16,031
It is law in Canada that you are legally bound to "assist" boaters in need as long as the welfare of your passengers as well as yourself or your vessel will not risked. So towing is assisting whether you like it or not. Like most laws it isn't crystal clear.
It's unclear because your are misquoting the law....

"Every master is bound, so far as he can do so without serious danger to his vessel and persons thereon, to render assistance to any person in danger of being lost at sea."

The legal term "lost at sea," and a vessel lost is one that has totally gone from the owners against their will, so that they know nothing of it whether it still exists or not, or one which they know is no longer within their use and control, either in consequeuce of capture by enemies or pirates, or an unknown foundering, or sinking by a known storm, or collision, or destruction by ship wreck.

While towing someone back to port is admirable, the law doesn't not require or imply that you "must" tow or assist everyone. If the vessel is in such condition that it is in danger of being "lost at Sea", the passenger(s) should immediately be transferred to another vessel and the authorities notified of the situation.
 

dingbat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
16,031
I called Progressive and they read to me this information. The information about 10 mile towing was in regards to being towed to my choice of destination. I'm also curious about what "normal boating season" means. I didn't hear or see any info about that. I will call and find out.

If your going to call them, I would ask if you have a choice of destinations. The T&C imply that you don't.

Sign & Glide Service Providers will tow you from the site of disablement to the nearest accessible dock or port where the watercraft can be repaired or removed from the water. If the covered watercraft is towed to any place other than the nearest dock or port, you will be responsible for any additional incurred charges.
 

redneck joe

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 18, 2009
Messages
10,831
Uber tow? I think I've got a business plan. Sign up, take some qualifying tests, and when on water you can get alerts. If you want to make a buck - go tow someone in...
 

Old Ironmaker

Captain
Joined
Dec 28, 2015
Messages
3,050
It's unclear because your are misquoting the law....

"Every master is bound, so far as he can do so without serious danger to his vessel and persons thereon, to render assistance to any person in danger of being lost at sea."

The legal term "lost at sea," and a vessel lost is one that has totally gone from the owners against their will, so that they know nothing of it whether it still exists or not, or one which they know is no longer within their use and control, either in consequeuce of capture by enemies or pirates, or an unknown foundering, or sinking by a known storm, or collision, or destruction by ship wreck.

While towing someone back to port is admirable, the law doesn't not require or imply that you "must" tow or assist everyone. If the vessel is in such condition that it is in danger of being "lost at Sea", the passenger(s) should immediately be transferred to another vessel and the authorities notified of the situation.

I have a rule, I don't practice Medicine or Law on the Internet. I misquoted, sorry. If you leave 3 men in a boat in the middle of Lake Erie with an oncoming storm with 50K winds they are lost at sea, no? Or it means imminent death? I don't know I missed 7 years of Law School. Regardless I'm doing the right thing and towing them to safety, Judges and Lawyers present to argue the law or not.
 

ajgraz

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Mar 1, 2010
Messages
1,858
If your going to call them, I would ask if you have a choice of destinations. The T&C imply that you don't.

Agreed with this. 10 miles is really not that far, and if you truly only get to go to "the nearest dock"--rather than the dock YOU tie up to or launch from--that can be a major hassle!

Maybe what you've been quoted is a sea towing "lite" package, which is maybe why so much cheaper. When you call, find out if they have an "upgraded" version that has greater distance limits and your true choice of destination; be interesting to see how that price would compare to SeaTow.
 
Joined
Jun 15, 2013
Messages
9
I don't have Sea-Tow so I can't speak about them. I have Boat US, and I would not leave the dock with out it.
 

jackrabbit66

Seaman
Joined
Sep 26, 2014
Messages
58
If your going to call them, I would ask if you have a choice of destinations. The T&C imply that you don't.


I mentioned that in an earlier post. They will tow you to your choice of destination up to 10 miles or the nearest service station.
 

roffey

Commander
Joined
Nov 22, 2012
Messages
2,204
I have a rule, I don't practice Medicine or Law on the Internet. I misquoted, sorry. If you leave 3 men in a boat in the middle of Lake Erie with an oncoming storm with 50K winds they are lost at sea, no? Or it means imminent death? I don't know I missed 7 years of Law School. Regardless I'm doing the right thing and towing them to safety, Judges and Lawyers present to argue the law or not.

you were right the first time. The law in Canada "Requires a pleasure craft operator to stop and assist another boat when he/she is in distress, as long as it does not place themselves, their boat or their passengers in a dangerous position "

https://www.boatsmartexam.com/knowledge-base/article/canadian-boating-laws/
dingbat may be thinking of US marine law.
 

redneck joe

Supreme Mariner
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Mar 18, 2009
Messages
10,831
iIm not a proponent of following these laws, rather I operate under the premise that karma is a B*tch and if you don't help you will be paid back.
 

82rude

Rear Admiral
Joined
May 8, 2012
Messages
4,082
Ive never heard of a tow service up here on the st. marys river.For those that dont know its a border river between SOO MICHIGAN and SAULT STE MARIE ONTARIO.Its in between two great lakes called Huron and Superior.If you have a problem and call out for help its a mad dash between several state, federal, provinicial and canadian federal agencies to see who can get there first .Ive seen American coast guard tow people to our canuck docks and canuck leo,s do the same for our American friends to their boat launches.Some times it seems like theres more of them than civy boaters which is a comfort to people i suppose.Ive personally had U.S coast guard and army helos check me out in lake superior in our waters then smile and wave and head up deeper into canadian waters .Practicing i would guess.Im certainly glad were such good neighbors.
 
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Blind Date

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 5, 2014
Messages
462
iIm not a proponent of following these laws, rather I operate under the premise that karma is a B*tch and if you don't help you will be paid back.

Same here. I've towed many people off the lake w/Blind Date and never once in the 13 seasons I've owned it has it broke down. But it will eventually if I own it long enough. It' will be slipped on Lake Minnetonka, in MN all season which is a 14K acre lake so I won't waste my money on Sea Tow or the like. If I can't find a stranger to tow me in I know multiple people with boats on the lake that will. And I'd do the same for them.

If I ever take it up to Isle Royale on Superior like I want to, then I'll probably invest in towing insurance.
 

dingbat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
16,031
The law in Canada "Requires a pleasure craft operator to stop and assist another boat when he/she is in distress, as long as it does not place themselves, their boat or their passengers in a dangerous position "

https://www.boatsmartexam.com/knowledge-base/article/canadian-boating-laws/

You know what they say about things you read on the internet.;)

There is no such language found in the actual text of the law Canada Shipping Act, 2001 posted below.

Canada Shipping Act, 2001
S.C. 2001, c. 26
Assented to 2001-11-01
Search and Rescue

Assistance
132 The master of a vessel in Canadian waters and every qualified person who is the master of a vessel in any waters shall render assistance to every person who is found at sea and in danger of being lost.

https://www.canlii.org/en/ca/laws/stat/sc-2001-c-26/latest/sc-2001-c-26.html

FWIW: you are under no legal obligation to recuse property at sea.
 

82rude

Rear Admiral
Joined
May 8, 2012
Messages
4,082
Kind of a catch 22 isnt it dingbat.20 foot boat comes upon 22 foot boat with max passengers and 20 footer also has max passengers ,now what?I personally will do everything i possibly can short of risking the lives of my passengers to render assistance .If i dont have a so called legal obligation ive certainly got a moral obligation to try my best even if thats only to call for help and as i said where i boat you would have so many agencies rushing to the rescue it would look like a gang of puppies going after a single bowl of food.
 

JoLin

Vice Admiral
Joined
Aug 18, 2007
Messages
5,146
Kind of a catch 22 isnt it dingbat.20 foot boat comes upon 22 foot boat with max passengers and 20 footer also has max passengers ,now what?I personally will do everything i possibly can short of risking the lives of my passengers to render assistance .If i dont have a so called legal obligation ive certainly got a moral obligation to try my best even if thats only to call for help and as i said where i boat you would have so many agencies rushing to the rescue it would look like a gang of puppies going after a single bowl of food.

That's essentially how I look at my obligation to 'render aid.' If no one is in any physical danger, my offer will probably be to call for help on their behalf. If the water is very rough, I'll offer to stand by until help arrives in case things start going 'south.' I probably won't tow. The waters I boat in are seldom calm, and most of the boats around here are as big or bigger than my own. My boat isn't outfitted to tow 30-40 footers through a couple feet of chop. Seatow's and BoatTow US's boats are.

My .02
 
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